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Conservation status and regional population estimates of the White-breasted Mesite Mesitornis variegata, a rare Malagasy endemic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2010

A. F. A. Hawkins
A. F. A. Hawkins
Affiliation:
10 Lodway Gardens, Pill, Bristol BS20 0DL, U.K.
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Three different methods (visual detection on transects, call-playback and territory mapping) were used to estimate the densities of the White-breasted Mesite Mesitornis variegata in western Malagasy deciduous forest. The species is threatened and belongs o t an endemic family of uncertain affinities. The population in the Menabe region, central-west Madagascar, surveyed using call-playback (the most efficient survey method), is estimated at 3,000-19,000 individuals; that of Ankarafantsika, north-west Madagascar, 6,000-26,000 individuals. Other western populations may be relicts. The White-breasted Mesite occurs at highest densities and with highest productivity in logged forest near rivers in the south of its range and in undisturbed sand-forest in the north, and is present at low density or absent from some areas of apparently suitable habitat, as well as forest that is secondary or has been severely damaged by burning. It is probably not immediately at risk from rats, dogs or selective exploitation, but hunting and forest burning through accidental bushfires or clearance for agriculture are locally important threats.

Trois méthodes différentes (détection visuelle sur transect, réémission de chant, et délimitation du territoire) ont été utilisées pour faire des estimations de la densité de la Mésite Variée Mesitornis variegata dans la forêt sèche de l'ouest de Madagascar. L'espèce est considérée comme menacée et appartient à une famille endémique de relations obscures. La population dans la region du Menabe, centre-ouest Madagascar, estime avec la réémission de chant (la méthode la plus efficace) est entre 3,000-19,000; celle de l'Ankarafantsika, nord-ouest Madagascar, est entre 6,000-26,000. Les autres populations occidentales sont probablement des vestiges. L'habitat ou l'espece se trouve le plus commune est à côté des rivières dans la foret exploitée, dans la partie méridionale de son aire de distribution, et dans forêt intacte sur sable dans le partie septentrionale. L'espece parait etre absente dans d'autres régions, meme où l'habitat est similaire. Elle existe rarement ou pas du tout dans les forêts sécondaires ou brulees. Les rongeurs introduits et Sexploitation forestiere selective ne posent pas probablement un grand problème pour l'espece, mais la chasse et le defrîchement pour l'agriculture sont localement importante.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bird Conservation International , Volume 4 , Issue 4 , December 1994 , pp. 279 - 303
Copyright
Copyright © Birdlife International 1994

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